Battery carrier device

ABSTRACT

A hand hold connecting member having first and second ends threadably receiving respectively the first and second threaded and remove ends of the first and second threaded rod members, said first handle threaded end and said second handle reverse threaded end being in opposed relation whereby rotation of the connecting member controls the spacing of the handle members and attached grip members; each of said grip members including the inwardly extending flanges thereof having an equal dimension transverse to the axis and extending equally in opposite directions from the axis by a distance at least two times greater than the width of the first and second plate members whereby attachment of the carrier onto a rimmed battery enables positioning of the extending flanges underneath sections of a rim around the peripheral top of the battery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] In a principal aspect, the present invention comprises a vehiclebattery carrier which includes opposed gripping members connected by ahandle member that telescopically receives the gripping members toadjust and maintain their spacing and thereby effect a grip on an itemsuch as the side walls of a vehicle battery.

[0002] Gripping, lifting and transport of a battery from the compartmentfor a vehicle engine or some other battery compartment in a vehicle maybe effected by various types of battery carriers. For example, aflexible handle loop which includes grippers at its opposite ends may beutilized to engage and lift a battery, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,217.However, release of the loop will cause release of the grip upon thebattery.

[0003] An alternative carrier device includes a pair of gripping membersconnected by a scissors type connection wherein the angular relationshipof the connecting scissor members may be set and adjusted, e.g., U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,820,837 and 4,055,364. Such a carrier may, when the handleor scissor members are released, not retain its grip on the battery.

[0004] Thus, there has developed the need for an improved batterycarrier which will permit access to restricted spaces and which willenable gripping and maintaining a grip on a battery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Briefly, the present invention comprises a battery carrier whichincludes first and second opposed gripping members that are arranged togrip into the sides of a vehicle battery, for example. Each grippingmember has a projecting handle member extending upwardly from thegripping member and then inwardly so that the inner ends project orextend toward one another in opposed relation. A hand held connectingmember then engages the opposed sections or elements of the handlemembers in a manner which permits adjustment of the spacing of thegripping members and retaining the gripping members in the fixed, spacedrelationship. In a preferred embodiment, the hand held connecting membercomprises a reversibly threaded tube which telescopically receivesopposite threaded inner ends of the handle members. By rotating the handheld connecting member, one is able to adjust and maintain the spacingof the gripping members attached to the handle members. The grippingmembers may include an edge or tooth design to facilitate gripping bythe carrier. The carrier may be attached to a vehicle battery, forexample, and will remain engaged with the battery so long as the handheld connecting member has been operated to adjust the spacing of thegripping members to tightly grip the battery.

[0006] Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedvehicle battery carrier device, which will not only grip and hold abattery or similar item, but also will retain a grip on the carrieditem, such as a battery, when the carrier device or handle thereof isreleased.

[0007] Yet another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive,yet rugged, easily assembled and easily manipulated or utilized batterycarrier device.

[0008] A further object of the invention is to provide a battery carrierdevice which permits adjustment of the spacing of gripping elementsdesigned to engage and grip a battery.

[0009] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a batterycarrier device which is easy to adjust and manipulate to accommodatevarious sizes of batteries.

[0010] A further object of the invention is to provide a batter carrierdevice which may be utilized in restricted spaces.

[0011] These and other objects, advantages and features of the inventionwill be set forth in a detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0012] In the detailed description which follows, reference will be madeto the drawing comprised of the following figures:

[0013]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the carrier device of the inventiondeployed for gripping and carrying a vehicle battery, for example;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the battery carrier device of FIG.1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the battery carrier deviceof the invention;

[0016]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of alternative embodiment of thecarrier device of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the battery carrier of FIG. 4;

[0018]FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of the battery carrier ofFIG. 4; and

[0019]FIG. 7 is an end view of the battery carrier of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] Referring to the figures, the vehicle battery carrier of theinvention is designed to support and carry automobile batteries 10, forexample. Typically, an automobile battery 10 will have a generallyrectangular, parallelepiped shape with opposed side walls 12, 14. Often,such a battery 10 is positioned in a vehicle in a receptacle,compartment or other restricted access position or space. Thus, it isdesirable to provide a device which will engage with opposite walls 12,14 of the battery and affect movement of the battery, not onlyvertically by lifting the battery, but also by sliding movement orhorizontally so as to facilitate removal from an engine compartment, forexample.

[0021] The battery carrier device of the invention includes a firstgripping member or channel 16 and an opposed gripping member or channel18. Channel 16 includes a horizontal, elongate channel section 20 thatfits on the top edge of battery 10 and a depending leg 22 with aninwardly projecting tooth or rib 24 to engage a side wall 12.Alternative constructions are possible. That is, the horizontal run 20may be in the form of a series of legs or elements as may be thevertical run or section 22. The rib 24 may also be in the form ofmultiple teeth. The tooth 24 is designed to grip, fit into, or cut intothe side wall 12 so as to enhance the holding function of the carrier.The second gripping member 18 likewise has, in a preferred embodiment, ahorizontal run 26 and a vertical or depending run or leg 28 with aninwardly projecting rib or tooth 30. Generally channels 16, 18 aremirror images of one another. Preferably, the channels 16, 18 areelongate and extend laterally across the width of the item (battery) tobe carried. This arrangement functions to balance the load and spreadthe load of the item carried.

[0022] The first gripping member or channel 16 has a handle member 32attached thereto. The handle member 32 includes a first vertical run 34and a second horizontal run 36 with a threaded end 38. Similarly, asecond handle member 40 attaches to channel 18 and includes a verticalrun 42, a connected horizontal run 44 and a threaded end 46. The ends38, 46 are axially aligned and in opposed relation to one another in thepreferred embodiment. Handle members 32, 40 attach respectively to themidpoints of channels 16, 18 to facilitate balance of the load to becarried by the carrier, though for special situations, the members 32,34 may be offset from the center of channels 16, 18. A handle connectingmember 50, which includes an internal threaded passage 52, may bethreadably connected with the ends 38, 46 respectively. Thus, the ends38, 46 are threaded in opposite directions and threads within theopposite ends of bore or passage 52 of connecting member 50 arecompatible with the threads 38, 46 respectively. Rotation of theconnecting handle 50 about its centerline axis will cause the handlemembers 32, 40 to move toward or away from each other in accord with thesense and pitch of threads on the ends 38, 46. In this manner, thegripping channels 16, 18 are moved inwardly or outwardly, depending upondesires and needs. When attaching the assembly to a vehicle battery, theconnecting handle 50 is rotated so as to cause the channels 16, 18 tomove closer to one another thereby causing the teeth 24, 30 to engagethe side walls 12, 14 respectively. Thus, the carrier is tightly engagedwith the sides of the battery 10. The carrier and battery 10 may then belifted or moved laterally so as to take the battery from its positionwithin a vehicle or to place the battery in a desired location.Reversing the operation effects removal of the carrier from engagementwith battery 10.

[0023] Other types of adjustable connecting mechanisms for connectinghandle 50 and the telescoping ends 38, 46 may be utilized to engagethose component parts and insure that they will remain fixed in relativeposition to one another after appropriate adjustment. For example, sometype of sliding connection may be provided, along with a means forlocking the elements together. Another equivalent option is to provide athreaded connection for only one of the two opposed handle members 34,40. The particular shape of the handle members 34, 40 as well as theircross sectional shape, dimensional extents and orientation may bealtered without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.The particular configuration and shape of the channel members 16, 18 mayalso be varied. Importantly, some type of means for gripping the sides12, 14 of the battery 10 are considered to be appropriate. More than oneset of the handle members 32, 40 may be used with a single set ofchannels 16, 18. In such circumstance, the handle members may beconnected to function together or separate to function independently.Thus, while there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that the invention is limited only bythe following claims and equivalents thereof.

[0024]FIGS. 4 through 7 illustrate a second and preferred embodiment ofthe invention. Referring to those figures, the first channel 60 and asecond channel 62 having a substantially identical construction andpositioned opposite one another. Each include an upwardly extendingsecond plate 64 and 66 welded thereto. The plate is a flat planar steelplate and is welded substantially at the midline axis 68 extendingbetween the midpoint of the channel or gripping members 60, 62. Theplates 64, 66 are generally congruent in size and shape. Each plate 64,66 extends upwardly from an upper run 70 and 72, respectively associatedwith the gripping channels 60 and 62, respectively. The upper orhorizontal run 70 and 72 extends an equal distance from opposite sidesof the center line axis 68 and the plates 64, 66 are parallel.

[0025] The channels 60 and 62 further each include depending verticallyextending runs 74 and 76 which project or extend on opposite sides ofthe midline axis 68 in an equal and opposite direction and thus extendat least as far as the horizontal runs 70 and 72, respectively.Projecting inwardly at an angle in the range of about 45° from thevertical plate 74 and 76 are gripping ledges or flanges 78 and 80,respectively, attached and extending inwardly from the vertical plates74 and 76. The gripping edges 78 and 80 extend in equal and oppositedirections inwardly from the midline axis 68 toward each other and arecoextensive with the planar vertical plate runs 74 and 76. In thepreferred embodiment the channels 60 and 62 include a horizontal platerun 70, a vertical plate run 74 and a gripping flange 78 all of whichare coextensive in their extension in opposite directions from themidline axis 68 and in the preferred embodiment extend at least two tofour times the width of the upstanding plates 64 and 66, the widththereof being identified as the width 82 in the figure.

[0026] Extending inwardly along a center line axis 84 from plates 64, 66are first and second threaded rods 86 and 88. The rods 86 and 88 arewelded at one end to the plates 64 and 66, respectively. The oppositeends are threaded and may be threadably engaged by a threaded handle 90having internal threads. The threaded rods 86 and 88 are threaded in areverse or opposite sense and the internal threads within the handle 90are appropriately compatible therewith. Thus, by rotating the handle 90in one sense about the axis 84, the gripping flanges 60 and 62 movetogether. Rotation in the opposite sense will cause the flanges of thegripping sections 60 and 62 to become spaced one from the other.Preferably the distance between the axes 68 and 84 is in the range ofone to two inches. This distance is minimized in order to diminish theimpact of any twisting or torque associated with tightening the handle90 thereby tending to cause separation of the gripping members 60 and62. Preferably the distance between the upper flanges 70 and the axis 84is no more than two to three times the width 82. Importantly, thegripping members 60 and 62 extend at least three inches in oppositedirections from the axis 68 so as to provide in effect a member whichcan sufficiently clasp against the rim of a battery, for example, or anyother item which can be carried without slippage and to accommodate therims which are discontinuous, broken, or otherwise imperfect. That isthe result of extending flanges 78 and 80 which fit under a rim 90 of abattery. However, if a rim 90 is broken or discontinuous the flange 78extends for an adequate distance to ensure that the gripping action willbe maintained. With the construct of the present invention it ispossible to ensure such gripping action. Further by welding orattachment of the plates 64 and 66 to top run or horizontal runs 70 and72, respectively, and providing narrow vertical runs 74 and 76, accessto restricted areas within an engine department is promoted. Thisfeature differentiates, among others, the present invention and priorart constructions.

1. A battery carrier comprising, in combination: a first grip memberincluding an L cross-section shaped channel having a planar run and adepending run and further including a first inward extending flange; asecond grip member including an L cross-section shaped channel having aplanar run and a depending run and further including a second inwardlyextending flange in opposed relation to the first flange; a first platemember attached at one end to the midpoint of the planar run of thefirst grip member; a first threaded rod extending at a right angle fromthe first plate member along a rod axis; a hand hold connecting memberhaving first and second ends threadably receiving respectively, thefirst and second threaded and reverse threaded ends of the first andsecond rods member, said first handle threaded end and second handlereverse threaded end being in opposed relation whereby rotation of theconnecting member controls the spacing of the handle members andattached grip members each of said gripping member including theinwardly extending flanges having an equal dimension transverse to theaxis and extending equally from the axis in opposite directions by adistance at least two times greater than the width of the plates.